The first time Candice Ransom picked up a pencil, she drew a witch wearing a ball gown, a beehive, and a diamond tiara in her sister's spelling book. It was an inauspicious beginning for an award-winning writer who would publish more than 100 children's books, ranging from fiction to nonfiction, biographies to board books, picture books to young adult novels.
Candice learned to tell stories by listening to her mother recall the "olden days" of her childhood in the Shenandoah Valley and by taking note of her sister's excuses for cutting school ("I broke my arm playing basketball"). The combination of reminiscence and creative fibbing became the basis for her work. Many of her books are set in her native Virginia.
Candice has given hundreds of presentations to schools, libraries, conferences, and literary festivals. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and an MA in Children's Literature from Hollins University. In addition to writing and speaking, she currently teaches in the MA/MFA Children's Literature program at Hollins.
She lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with her husband and three high-maintenance cats. Sometimes she dreams of dressing up in a ball gown and a tiara and flying out her office window on a bejeweled broomstick.
Selected Reviews of Candice Ransom's Books
Pony Island
Candice Ransom
Illustrated by Wade Zahares
Any person with a fondness for horses will love this latest book by Ransom. Written in a rhyming text, it tells the story of the wild ponies that live on Chincoteague Island. It explores how the animals came to be on the island, the first pony round-up, and their sale to benefit the volunteer fire department. Dramatic pastel illustrations make the story feel very mysterious in the beginning and create a sense of movement as the horses swim and run throughout the pages. An author's note with background to the story and wild ponies is included, as well as further reading and several Web sites to explore. The book could be a little confusing for a younger reader since the story is not explained with a lot of text, just simple rhyming sentences. This book would be a quick read-aloud for a poetry lesson, historical fiction, or paired with nonfiction materials about wild horses. This would also work well if used with the classic Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry or My Chincoteague Pony by Susan Jeffers (Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Publishing Worldwide, 2008). Recommended. 2009, Walker and Company, 32pp., $16.99 hc. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Maureen Mooney (Library Media Connection, June 2009).
Seeing Sky-Blue Pink
Candice Ransom
In the summer of her eighth year, Maddie must face some major changes. She and her mother move from the city to the home of her new stepfather, Sam, in the country. The delights of rural life reveal themselves slowly, but must relinquish her cherished ideas of what makes up a perfect world and learn to see the possibilities in the new: to see the sky when it is blue-pink. Adjusting to such change takes time. Maddie confides in Buckingham, her stuffed donkey, about all her fears and wishes. The tattered old companion is a comfort to the girl, tying her comfortably to her old life. When Buckingham goes missing, however, it is Sam who leads the search. Maddie and Sam cautiously, then with increasing confidence, build their relationship. Maddie learns that a perfect day can look very different from what she has imagined it to be in the past and that her new life holds more promise than she ever realized. This gentle story of a blended family from a young child’s point of view is well-paced and genuine. It would be a good addition to an elementary reading program or elementary school library collection. 2007, Carolrhoda Books/Lerner, $16.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Hazel Buys (Children's Literature).
Tractor Day
Candice Ransom, Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant
A day on a tractor is lots of fun! After greeting the crows and taking the cover off the tractor, it’s time to get the tractor started. Once it is going, the farmer and his assistant use it for spring planting. The plow digs up broken cups and springs in addition to dirt. After a break for lunch, it’s back to work. Once the tractor’s work is done, the humans plant the seeds in the freshly-plowed earth. After a long, hard day, both the tractor and humans rest for the night. Ransom shows both the fun and difficult work required on a farm in entertaining and fun-to-read verse. Bryant’s illustrations perfectly compliment this idyllic tale of farm life. The reader will enjoy following the animals shown in the illustration yet not mentioned in the text. 2007, Walker and Company, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
Candice gives three presentations plus an autographing session. Many of her programs are PowerPoint slides, peppered with an enthusiastic discussion. A choice of programs for grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 is available. Candice is flexible and accomodating.
Children of the Civil War
For the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in 2011, Candice has created a powerful new presentation that focuses on little-known stories of young people during the Civil War. In writing several books for different ages on the war, Candice's research uncovered astonishing young heroes. From her childhood growing up on a former Union camp to her latest book with a Civil War background, Candice's stories bring this tragic era in our history to life. PowerPoint. Grades 4-7, 50 minutes.How I Came to Be a Writer
In this program Candice discusses how she began writing at age seven. She shows old stories (not outstanding!), report cards (ditto), drawings, photographs, and ephemera to illustrate her not-so-easy journey from child-writer to published author. This popular humorous presentation inspires young people to follow their dreams and never give up. PowerPoint. Grades 3-7, 50 min.
Time Spies
In this program Candice discusses the creation of her 10-book fantasy series that involves time travel to little-known events in American history. See the real house that inspired the Gray Horse Inn, the storyboard, photographs of "real" characters (Ellsworth the stuffed elephant and Winchester the cat) in the series, the terrible original jacket art. Students can complete the Time Spies Mission Handbook and become a Time Spy themselves. PowerPoint. Grades 2-5, 50 mins.
The Big Green Pocketbook/The Old Blue Pick-Up Truck
Two autobiographical picture books--one about a fun day with Candice's mother, the other a fun day with her stepfather--show young children to "write what you know." PowerPoint. Grades K-2, 45 min.
Tractor Day/Big Rigs
One picture book, one nonfiction book about big machines! (Don't be fooled--a girl rides the tractor!) PowerPoint. Grades K-2, 45 mins.
Pony Island
In this presentation of Candice's first nonfiction picture book, students learn how the wild ponies came to Chincoteague Island and the history of the first pony swim and auction. PowerPoint. Grades 1-3, 50 mins.
Workshops:
Writing Fantasy
Students learn the ingredients of a secondary world. They create a story map, learn the importance of names, setting, and rules of magic. Grades 3-6.
Writing Your Story
Students learn how to turn autobiography into fiction. Grades 3-6.
Transitional Readers
In-services or conference presentation on the needs of newly independent readers. She often speaks at reading conferences on how she creates chapter books such as Time Spies for transitional readers.
Fees
All fees for presentations and workshops are negotiable.
To learn more about Candice Ransom and her publications please visit www.candiceransom.com.
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